The Benefits Of ABS

During driver's education, most of us were taught to pump the brakes when the car started to skid because slamming on the brakes would cause them to lock and the car would spin out of control.

Then along came ABS (Antilock Braking System) in the 1980s and you had to forget everything you learned about braking. With this new system came new rules and many people had (and still have) trouble adapting to antilock brakes.

Drivers need to learn how to properly use antilock brakes because it seems that the technology is here to stay. After hitting a flat spot for a few years when some experts questioned the usefulness of the system, ABS appears to be gaining acceptance with car buyers, according to a survey by Ward's Automotive Reports conducted earlier this year.

A final tally of 1999 production vehicles indicated that antilock brakes were present on 65.1% of the passenger cars built in the United States, Canada and Mexico. This is up from 59.2% in 1998 and marks the biggest increase for the technology since 1994.

Despite the strong penetration in the car market, recent surveys indicate that almost half the drivers on the road still do not know how to use antilock brakes properly.

antilock brakes do work

Regarding the controversy in recent years about the usefulness of ABS, some people argued that the system causes as many accidents as it prevents. But recently, studies demonstrated that the technology is helpful, drivers just need to know the situations in which it works best.

So before learning how to use antilock brakes, drivers should know the effectiveness of the technology. Although the system is useful, it does not help stop the car in all situations. Studies determined that ABS works best at stopping cars (and thus reducing accidents) on roads made slick by rain, snow and ice. But the benefits of the technology in other circumstances are less clear. Studies also indicate that antilock brakes have no advantage in reducing the number of fatal accidents.

One last comment about the usefulness of ABS. Despite the recent controversy, drivers should note that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to recommend the technology to consumers. In addition, many insurance companies give discounts to policyholders with antilock brakes.

understanding the technology

During hard or emergency braking, cars with conventional braking require the driver to pump the brakes. When doing this, some or all the tires slide or skid on the road. How the vehicle skids depends on the coefficient of friction between each tire and the road surface it contacts. The car may skid straight forward, to the left or right, or it may spin. In any of these situations, the driver loses control of the car.

The idea of the antilock brake system is to prevent wheel lockup and eliminate skidding during emergency braking so drivers can maintain control of the car. It automatically and rapidly pumps the brakes 15 to 18 times per second.